Neither bribe nor lose your right !

BY WORKU BELACHEW

Some years ago, many people got a shockwave following the news of former Benishangul-Gumuz state chief corruption scandal. When such senior public figures trade honesty and pride that the public paid to them for a silly greediness, it is not unusual to hold a breath for some seconds. Worse, as the thing coincide with the period that the country and its citizens are tightly engaged in development endeavors.

People in such position have all the awareness as to how individual greediness acutely damages the ongoing fast track development. It is too difficult to tell them how corruption is a deadly disease. Words lack power to concretize how deep is the pain of corruption.

I remember what a friend said by the time the above news broadcast by the major media found in the country, “worse comes to worst, as senior government officials manipulate their power to suck the little blood that gives life for the thin body, just to fatten themselves and invest on luxury.” He went on to say, “imagine how many children go to school each day without breakfast and lunch box. If you serve as a teacher, you will know what this exactly means.” No confusion, thousands of parents could not afford the insignificant cost for pencil. For our society, health centers are still luxury. But, such individuals who run public offices use the meager public money to full their own belly.

Of late, another news echoed in everyone's home. The case of alleged grand corruption of Custom and Revenue minister and others. In fact, their case is in a court proceeding which many are eager to know the decision of the court in the coming days. Meanwhile, the Federal Anti-corruption Commission of Ethiopia is announcing that same fights against corruption will keep their momentum.

In fact, it is common to hear a phrase 'corruption is everywhere'. I heard from one senior guy who tried to indoctrinate his audience at a meeting. He said, “in other countries [may be in developed ones?] corrupt individuals do not compromise quality.” He went on to say, “if they are to build new road, they do it meeting the desired standards but may trim down some inches from the original size [design] to puff up their pocket per kilometers.” And he finally concluded that it is better to compromise quantity than quality.

There is no need to make an overnight argument to prove or disprove the above lame argument. Theft is theft. We cannot make one form of theft sacred and the other cursed. No one dare to counter argue this guy rather it created a hall-wide laughter for him as if he speaks something witty. This may serve to showcase how such mentalities have already taken roots in our society. From a wereda level to hither government institutions symptom of corrupt practices are rampant. Be' jehi hid [approach him with bribes] is the common saying. It is like “Who greases his way travels easily.” It is also said in the margins that brokers who facilitate bribes exist every where public services are rendered, if you persist in “Neither bribe nor lose thy right” stand the brokers tell you that you are Far'ha [not wise ].

Be it reducing an inch or compromising quality or you name it, they all harm the society, directly or indirectly.

School building and hospitals with poor quality directly affect each and everyone who uses them. The resources which could have been allocated for improving the quality of education or health will be employed for maintenance. The road that is expected to foster mobility, will end up being an impediment for traffic and make people to lose their lives as well as properties due to road traffic accidents, for instance.

Yes, the indirect impairment it brings to the society would be more dangerous, I believe. Why do people sweat for extended years while shortcuts can take them to their destination. Completing high school, joining universities, working hard ... would lack taste. Obviously due to the impact of corruption. It is unwise to think that people can get courage in a situation when their fellows enjoy success only because they know key officials at every sectors so that they can accumulate wealth without sweating. Creativity, innovation or entrepreneurship or whatever would be only remain on sheet of paper. And this could be more fatal than the former.

A person who rather preferred anonymity told me when the news of the alleged grand corruption case broadcast recently that, “A mere observation is enough to understand the level of corruption here, I do not think that the luxury vehicles you may not see in Europe roam in Ethiopian roads are the results of hard work. Someone who lives solely on their own sweat is too reluctant to throw his/ her wealth on such luxuries.” This guy also included his experience, “I worked here for over a decade plus years but I have no house or car ... is that my mistake?” he questions.

Actually the reason why everyone should fight against this societal evil is to minimize both the direct and indirect harms of corruption. As unity is strength, the task to fight against the menace falls on the shoulder of both the society and government. The current shocking wave pertaining to the alleged accusation of senior government officials including Melaku Fenta, can give the fight against corruption a new momentum.

It is not because, some of them are senior officials, but it rings a cautious sound on the mind of each corrupt guys who are trying to cripple the nations development. And may give them a good lesson that their acts that is curtained temporarily would be exposed in broad light. No doubt, to day the corrupts deeds may be discussed at margins, but time will definitely come to talk it on major media as has been witnessed of late.

More importantly, the new face of fighting corruption that worth appreciation is the wealth accumulated as a result of corruption is entering to the rightful owners' account, public. Being that the fact, fossilizing how corruptness harms a society should be at the heart of the efforts of fighting corruption. Everyone should vividly comprehend the long term benefits of common good than rushing for short-lived individual gains.

Being that the case, any service need to be delivered to anyone without bribes, late alone in terms of money there is no need even to salute those in public offices for the service they render because that is the reason which keeps them at the offices. But in real cases, it is customers who give excess respect to officers. It is hard to conclude that late business process re engineering has broken this trend. Anyway, getting services is a right. And citizens need to join hands to claim their rights than exposing themselves for corrupts who lead their deluxe lives at the expense of the public. No doubt, the fight against corrupt officers need to start at grass roots and spread to top level.